Page 72 of Wolf's Bane
Solenne was his.
He had tried to wait, to do the right thing and honorable thing, but that had only led to wasted years.
“I should have come for you,” he said. “I never should have let anyone keep us apart. I’m sorry, love.”
“You should be,” she managed to say.
Alek was of the opinion that while she had managed to say something in that moment, he was doing a poor job of it. His fingers moved from her clit to plunge back inside, working a hard rhythm. She might have been inexperienced, but she met each thrust with enthusiasm.
“I can’t wait to have you on my bed, spread out for me, a feast for me. I’m going to eat every morsel of you, love,”
“Yes, Alek.” Her back arched again, and her feet braced against the side of the tub ten kicked, knocking over a basket of assorted washcloths. Her channel clutched him tight, pulsing with her climax.
He listened to her heart as her pulse and breath evened out.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
His heart. His love. His radiant daylight.
Solenne
Alek carried her to her bedroom, which was humiliating enough, but Travers’ knowing look made her flush with embarrassment. Thank the heavens that her father and Luis had yet to return.
He pushed open the door with his shoulder. The room was not grand by any means, furnished with century-old furniture and cluttered with books and notebooks on every available surface. A decrepit green velvet chair sat under the south-facing windows, the bottom sagging and the velvet worn away on the arms. The windows let in enough natural light that she only required a lamp on the dreariest of days.
“It’s not much,” she said, aware that Alek had not been in her bedchamber since they were children.
Once safely settled on the bed, the book on the nightstand grabbed his attention. “Page 72?” He flipped through the pages before turning to the marked page and read the passage. His brows rose. “Well, that’s certainly something to aspire to.”
Dr. Webb’s examination was thorough and efficient. The entire time, she worried that he would know what she and Alek had done in the bath. If the doctor had any suspicion, he kept that to himself. The maid who delivered a breakfast tray, however, gave Solenne a knowing wink.
The claw marks on her legs would scar, but it did no lasting damage to the muscles. Her ankle, however, was badly sprained. She was to have several days’ bedrest, put no weight on it whatsoever, and he’d know if she defied his orders.
“Do not worry. I’ll keep her in bed,” Alek said. When the doctor turned to pack up his bag, Alek licked his lips and winked. Solenne nearly spilled her tea in a coughing fit.
“Sorry. I swallowed poorly,” she said, grimacing at the lame excuse.
“Absolute bed rest,” Dr. Webb warned one last time. Alek locked the door as he left.
She cleared the plates, barely tasting the meal as Alek occupied so much of her attention. Her mind kept spinning about what they did in the bath, what it meant, and his announcement of their engagement. Her proposal had been sincere, but she had not expected Alek to agree so quickly. She had been prepared to fight against whatever arguments he had to decline.
It was silly to feel disappointment at not having an argument. Simply silly. She loved Alek, always had and always would. His affliction changed nothing. He returned her sentiment, touched her, and had been inside her. So the matter was settled.
Well, they still had to break the news to her father, so she’d get her argument after all.
Eventually, she realized how intensely Alek watched her eat.
“Are you going to eat? There’s more than enough for two,” she said, the slice of buttered toast with honey hovering at her mouth.
He took the slice of toast from her hands, leaned in, and licked the honey from her lips. “I plan on eating,” he growled, and she ached at his tone.
Carefully, he moved the tray to the floor, kneeling at the edge of the bed by her knees. Instinctively, she parted them, making room for him.
“Aleksandar, what are you doing?” she asked, though she knew.
“Is this not in your dirty little book?” He lifted her nightgown, exposing her bare thighs, and pushed open her legs further.
“Page 34.” She read it several times and made notes.
